Nephi

Family Home Evening is always an adventure.  Since Mitchell had trouble expressing himself, we always did short, simple, basic lessons, usually from the nursery manual, things like "Heavenly Father loves you" and "I am thankful for fish"

Which were great, and still are.  But after watching this past conference "someone" (ha) said something *like* (ha) Kids understand more than you think they do, and something about how they need to know scripture stories. I'm not really sure.  In fact, I don't even have enough of that "quote" to go look it up.  Awesome, right?

But anyway, Mike and I decided to focus on book of mormon stories for family home evening.  Then, when Mitchell gets to primary, he can blow everyone away with the abundant knowledge I will shove in his head in these short 2 months. (He's going to be a sunbeam! (yay) I cannot believe it.)

So, the beginning seems like a good place to start.  And every monday for the past few weeks, we've been talking about Nephi.  Nephi has a lot of great stories:

1. Nephi slays Laban
2. Nephi breaks his bow
3.  Nephi's dad has a dream
4. Nephi builds a boat
5. Nephi's brothers are mean, the liahona stops working.
6.  Nephi makes swords with Laban's sword.

Mostly, this all were pretty interesting to Mitchell.  We drew pictures and used the book of book of mormon stories (yeah, that's pretty explanatory of me.  I'm just full of awesome today)

Mitchell was pretty hysterically awesome for all these stories.  He clearly did not understand the slaying of the head, but loved loved the boat stories.  In fact, he's still going around telling me that Nephi built a boat, and Laman and Lemuel said sorry and that "fixed" the boat.

So, the other day, we're playing with tinker toys, and Mitchell puts some sticks together and proudly explains that he "built Nephi's boat!!" Oh, my.  This is just adorable.  Also, he knows the "I will go, I will DOOO!" Nephi song and sings it regularly.  Not as regularly as "Tonight, Tonight.  There's a party on the roof top top of the world" but still. He's been a.dor.a.ble.

So, tonight.  Nephi, well, dies.  And I figure the allegory of the olive trees is, actually, a little over Mitchell's head.  So, we skip over to Enos, and...

No.  Mitchell just did not want any of it.  "Look he's praying" No.  He wanted to learn more about Nephi and his boat, so he pulled out the book and retold it (again).  It goes something like "Nephi builded a boat. OH, scaarrry. Nephi so sad!  Say sorry.  All better.  Kisses and hugs! Yay!"

Lovely.  It's adorable watching him grow up.  For Christmas, santa will probably bring him a huge poster of Nephi, to go along side his temple pictures.  Along with Legos and a rocket ship (which, I have NO idea where that came from.  But he wants a rocket ship) And I'm hoping he's still into Nephi by next halloween, because THAT would seriously be so great.

And Ali gets cuter by the minute.  She hates any item of clothing on her body, and is really good at taking her socks and bows out.  Actually, Mitchell doesn't really like wearing clothes either.  So, don't come over without calling first, because there are no guarantees.

Ali's turned into a full fledged daddy's girl.  She LOVES him.  And Mikes the only one that can get her to laugh really loud, which is cute.  And Mike eats it up.  It's really fun. She also loves pulling Mitchell's hair, which is annoying and hilarious to Mitchell, depending on his mood.  She has such a funny personality.

Anyway, I don't have any pictures because I threw away my camera cord and my mac doesn't have an sd card slot, so I have to put them on mike's computer and email them to myself.  And I don't feel good, so that's just not happening.

Halloweeeeeeen

Let me paint the scene.

Also, I pressed this fabric I swear.

Every year, I think of the most amazing costumes ever, not that I'm biased and/or humble, and either Mike and his manhood shut it down, or I get lazy, and we end up buying a costume that doesn't fit or we just work with what is already in the closet.

Now, this year, Mitchell decides he loves shapes.  And when I asked him what he wanted to be (as I've been asking him every year), I finally understood the jabber as he exclaimed "A CIRCLE!"

Oh great.  A circle.  how original.

Note: After searching the entire state for white leggings that I needed for her birthday, I remember my sister-in-law gave her some last Christmas, in a 12 month size- so they would fit her... oh, about now.  Not joking.  Please, always check your closets before killing yourself.

At midnight, whist winning the internet, I decided pac-man was the most awesome circle of all time.  And Ali could be a ghost, and it would be perfect because she would follow him around everywhere.

And Mike was all "Yes.  That's a great idea" * Note: It might have been that he was only half awake since it was midnight and I woke him up because I was so excited.  (Which is what I do every time  I get a "great idea" Mike hasn't had a full night sleep in years)

So the next morning, I introduced Mitchell to pac-man and we practice saying it together.  Also, we practiced this as the answer to all those "what are you going to be for halloween?" questions strangers ask Mitchell at the grocery store.  (They always assume they are going to understand the answer.  And when they don't, they assume I understand him.  And when I don't, I feel like a failure as a mother.  So all annoying stranger-danger questions are routinely practiced before we go to the store.  And I'm only half joking)

Now that I've got my 3 year old obsessed with pac-man, I decide that this really has to happen this year and I can't be lazy about it.

So I went to joanns and bought some cheap fabric in yardage I just sort of guessed at the cutting counter.

And then I went home and let it sit on my desk for a few weeks, as is customary when I decide to make things for people for holidays.

And when I finally got around to it, I decided that my quilt hoop is a nice big circle to trace.

Of course it looked bigger than it actually was. But overall, it was fine.  Halloween costumes are something I don't really care about.  Ali's dress was held together by a safety pin.

Mitchell had a preschool party, and he gave out bouncy balls- yet another circle.

And on Halloween, the four of us ate a bunch of chili and doughnuts and ventured out to the neighborhood where Mitchell got loaded because "Trick or Treat! Thank you! Happy Halloween! I'll come back!" are adorable coming from a 3 year old dressed up as pac-man.  Of course, 90 mins or so into this adventure, instead of saying "trick or treat" Mitchell said "I need to go potty." and tried to walk up the stairs and find the bathroom himself.   Oh, nice.  Now, these people are in our ward, but we had no idea who was at the door or I probably would have been that "Can he use the bathroom?" mom.  But instead, I took Ali out of the stroller and put Mitchell in the stroller and Mike ran Mitchell to the park to use the bathroom.  And Ali and I tried to keep up, but Mike is really fast, or I'm in really bad shape.

And then since Mitchell didn't want the night to end, we walked around the apartment complex, which, apparently didn't get any kids, so Mitchell got huge handfuls.  *sigh*

And then we went home, and went to bed.

Singing Time with Mitchell

Lollipop

Mitchell's Lyrics: Lollipop, lollipop, oohh (*pop*) Lollipop, lollipop, lollipop. Boop. Boop. Boop.

Down By the Banks

Mitchell's Lyrics: Down by the banks.  Frogs bank and bank. Jump and jump. EEP. IIP. OOP! One jump lily and

Cici oh playmate

Mitchell's Lyrics: Cici Playmate.  (Clap Clap) Play with me! Climb Apple Tree! Slide down rainbow.  Play with Daddies friends and we'll SHUT THE DOOR!